In accordance with the provisions of the Law 99 of 1993 in his article 31, The functions of the Regional Autonomous Corporation of La Guajira are the following::

 

• run the policies, national environmental plans and programs defined by the law approving the National Development Plan and the National Investment Plan or by the Ministry of the Environment, as well as those of the regional order that have been entrusted to it in accordance with the law, within the scope of its jurisdiction.

 

• Exercise the function of the highest environmental authority in the area of ​​its jurisdiction, in accordance with the higher standards and in accordance with the criteria and guidelines outlined by the Ministry of the Environment.

 

• Promote and develop community participation in environmental protection activities and programs, sustainable development and proper management of renewable natural resources;

 

• Coordinate the process of preparing the plans, environmental development programs and projects that must be formulated by the different agencies and entities that are members of the National Environmental System (HIS) in the area of ​​its jurisdiction and especially, advise departments, Districts and Municipalities of their territorial understanding in the definition of environmental development plans and in their programs and projects regarding the protection of the environment and renewable natural resources, in such a way as to ensure the harmony and coherence of the policies and actions adopted by the different territorial entities;

 

• Participate with other agencies and competent entities in the field of their jurisdiction, in the processes of planning and territorial ordering so that the environmental factor is taken into account in the decisions that are adopted;

 

• Enter into contracts and agreements with territorial entities, other public and private entities and with non-profit entities whose purpose is the defense and protection of the environment and renewable natural resources, in order to better perform one or more of its functions, when they do not correspond to the exercise of administrative functions;

 

• Promote and carry out jointly with the national agencies attached to and linked to the Ministry of the Environment, and with the technical and scientific support entities of the National Environmental System (HIS), studies and research on the environment and renewable natural resources;

 

• Advise the territorial entities in the formulation of formal environmental education plans and execute non-formal environmental education programs, in accordance with national policy guidelines; grant concessions, permissions, authorizations and environmental licenses required by law for the use, use or mobilization of renewable natural resources or for the development of activities that affect or may affect the environment. Grant permits and concessions for forest exploitation, concessions for the use of surface and groundwater and establish closed seasons for hunting and sport fishing;

 

• Set in the area of ​​your jurisdiction, the permissible emission limits, discharge, transport the substance store, products, compounds or any other matter that may affect the environment or renewable natural resources and prohibit, restrict or regulate the manufacture, distribution, use, disposal or dumping of substances that cause environmental degradation. These limits, restrictions and regulations may in no case be less strict than those defined by the Ministry of the Environment.;

 

• Exercise evaluation functions, environmental control and monitoring of exploration activities, exploitation, benefit, transporte, use and storage of non-renewable natural resources, including port activity excluding the powers attributed to the Ministry of the Environment, as well as other activities, projects or factors that generate or may generate environmental deterioration. This function includes the issuance of the respective environmental license. The functions referred to in this numeral will be exercised in accordance with article 58 of this law;

 

• Exercise evaluation functions, control and environmental monitoring of water uses, floor, air and other renewable natural resources, which will include the dumping, emission or incorporation of liquid substances or waste, solid and gaseous, to the waters in any of its forms, to the air or to the ground, as well as discharges or emissions that may cause damage or endanger the normal sustainable development of renewable natural resources or prevent or hinder their use for other uses.. These functions include the issuance of the respective environmental licenses, permissions, concessions, authorizations and laissez-passer;

 

• Collect, according to the law, contributions, fees, rights, rates and fines for the use and exploitation of renewable natural resources, set its amount in the territory of its jurisdiction based on the minimum rates established by the Ministry of the Environment;

 

• Exercise control of mobilization, processing and commercialization of renewable natural resources in coordination with the other Regional Autonomous Corporations, territorial entities and other police authorities, in accordance with the law and regulations; and issue permits, licenses and safe-conducts for the mobilization of renewable natural resources;

 

• Manage, under the tutelage of the Ministry of the Environment the areas of the National Parks System that the Ministry delegates to them. This administration may be done with the participation of territorial entities and civil society.;

 

• Reserve, alinderar, manage or subtract, under the terms and conditions established by law and regulations, integrated management districts, soil conservation districts, regional forest reserves and natural parks, and regulate its use and operation. Manage the National Forest Reserves in the area of ​​its jurisdiction;

 

• Impose and execute prevention and without prejudice to the powers attributed by law to other authorities, police measures and penalties provided for by law, in case of violation of environmental protection regulations and management of renewable natural resources and demand, subject to relevant regulations, repairing the damage caused;

 

• Order and establish the rules and guidelines for the management of hydrographic basins located within the area of ​​its jurisdiction, in accordance with superior regulations and national policies;

 

• Promote and execute irrigation works, avenamiento, flood defense, regulation of water courses and currents, and recovery of lands that are necessary for the defense, protection and adequate management of the hydrographic basins of the territory of its jurisdiction, in coordination with the directing and executing agencies of the National Land Adaptation System, in accordance with the legal provisions and the corresponding technical provisions; In the case of irrigation and drainage works that, in accordance with the rules and regulations, require an Environmental License, this must be issued by the Ministry of the Environment.